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Labour to share asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms

Labour to share asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms

The National7 hours ago
A new agreement with Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats will see information about high-risk areas shared to tackle suspected hotspots of illegal working.
Currently delivery riders discovered to be sharing their accounts with asylum seekers have their profiles suspended. The latest measures hope to crack down further on the practice.
Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting.
READ MORE: UK Government panned for blanking letter questioning links to pro-Israel group
It's a policy that a majority of Scots reject, according to a recent poll.
Some 62% of Scottish adults said that people who are waiting for a Home Office decision on their asylum applications should be able to work, according to a Survation survey for the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC).
The SNP have also hit out at the move from the Labour Government, who have taken increasingly harsh measures against asylum seekers since coming to power in July last year to combat the rise of Reform UK.
"Under the Labour Party, the UK economy is in crisis, the cost of living is soaring, unemployment is rising, child poverty is at record levels - Britain is broken but this Labour Prime Minister thinks the priority is going after asylum seekers and takeaways,' a party spokesperson told The National.
"Once again this shows how ridiculous and rudderless Westminster is - with Keir Starmer's agenda totally dictated and directed by the fear of Farage rather than focusing on the actual priorities and lives of Scottish families."
(Image: PA)
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (above), meanwhile, said of the move: 'Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime.
'By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement.
'The changes come alongside a 50% increase in raids and arrests for illegal working under the Plan for Change, greater security measures and tough new legislation.'
The three delivery companies said they were fully committed to working with the Home Office.
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